SHAKTI SAFFRON by Ataratma

The combination of history and legend shows up time and again when we talk about the Celts - whether that’s Wales, Scotland, Ireland or Cornwall. The passionate storytelling that passes through generations creates timelines which, even if exaggerated, form the basis of cultural identity and fierce patriotism. Cornwall has its fair share of myths and legends, from King Arthur through to the Mermaid of Zennor, but the addition of its famous tin industry has provided the perfect scented pairing for the new release from Ataratma. So, by taking a pinch of saffron and combining it with a lost land, it’s time to discover the legendary Shakti Saffron.

Saffron has a very important part to play in the Cornish timeline, and it’s one that many outside of the county may be unfamiliar with. It’s widely known that tin and copper mining was the primary income for the area, before tourism became popular, but it wasn’t always money that was used as currency. From the 14th century, Spain was a major purchaser of the tin and copper. Now, they had trade routes across the globe, and it’s likely that this is where the saffron first arrived from. It would go on to play an important part of many Cornish recipes, and its use has survived to this day.

Moving from fact to fiction, the lost land of Lyonnesse was said to stretch from the western tip of Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly. It was swallowed up by the sea in a single night but, miraculously, there was a sole survivor. A man named Trevelyan managed to ride his white horse ahead of the gigantic wave, and found safety on what is now Land’s End. It is said that on a calm day you can hear the sound of the submerged church bells ringing, but it’s not known who they are calling for. So, how does all of this link to Shakti Saffron from Ataratma?

Ataratma was founded by Ada Panday and takes Ayurvedic wisdom as its inspiration. The nine perfumes in the collection have been created following the principle that all things are connected, both personally and universally, and each scent actively influences your mood thanks to the ingredients within them. For Shakti Saffron, perfumer Nelly Hachem-Ruiz was tasked with creating a fragrance “where divine dynamic creative cosmic forces intersect with equanimity and earth”. It’s this idea of combining the spiritual with the physical that resonates so closely with Cornish legends and realities, and also provides a scent that is deliciously original.

Shakti Saffron opens with a fascinating pairing of black cherry and cardamom, so you instantly get the idea of two opposing facets working together. However, the arrival of the saffron seamlessly combines with the previous two ingredients to create a golden accord that has both depth and vibrancy. This Cornish reference returns with notes of flint-edged iris and leather, hinting at the horseman riding for his life against the elements, but the addition of an aquatic touch also helps to add an expansiveness to the scent. The development of Shakti Saffron sees tempered labdanum and frankincense delivering a calming aspect to the fragrance, along with a hint of sweetened gorse, before a final appearance of smooth patchouli and soft oakmoss completes a stunning window into Cornwall's facts and fictions.

Shakti Saffron is available from the Ataratma website at ataratma.com priced at £235 for 50ml. [Sample provided by Ataratma]